L2 - Why we Differ

Question 1

What is the Diathesis Stress Model?

Answer 1

• Biological factors + Environmental factors = Behavioural Trait & Phenotype

Question 2

Study describing environmental factors with gender

Answer 2

• Babies climb a ramp
• Mothers were asked how successful they thought their child was going to be climbing
• Mothers of girls were less optimistic, thinking they would be worse
• Parents put an ability to their children, shaping them

Question 3

Study describing biological factors with monkeys

Answer 3

• Monkeys given range of toys, both masc&fem
• male monkeys chose masc toys and vice versa
• Monkeys have not experienced toys, so chose based on genetic makeup, suggesting biological underpinning

Question 4

How does Sex affect Individual Differences?

Answer 4

Affects:
- Intelligence, Personality, Emotion, Pain, Regional connectivity, Regional sizes & molecular biology
- Causes different diseases e.g colourblindess & ADHD is more prom in males
- EX: Water level test: to measure where the top of the water is in a half full glass when tilted toward the mouth, boys spatial ability is better

Question 5

Difference between Heredity and Heritability

Answer 5

Heredity is transmission of traits from parents to offspring
Heritability is genetic variation between individuals in a population

Question 6

How to use twins to work out variation

Answer 6

Use MZ twins and check concordance rates, do the same with DZ twins. If MZ rates are high, it has to be more genetic

Question 7

Describe Epigenetics

Answer 7

• Things added to genetics
• Alters DNA
• Not genetic mutation
• Can be inherited
• Can be reversed
• Alters gene expression
• Genes are silenced, blocked, facilitated

Question 8

What happened in the Dutch Winter Famine?

Answer 8

• Increased prevalence of CNS problems
• Babies in last trimester showed symptoms of schiz when mothers were suffering from malnutrition, showing reduced epigenetic markers after malnutrition.
• Env factors can cause epigenetic changes, affecting biological factors

Question 9

What is a gene?

Answer 9

Region of DNA and sequence of nucleotides. One gene makes one protein

Question 10

How to make a protein?

Answer 10

1) Transcription: DNA to mRNA
2) Translation: mRNA to protein

• Primary = Sequence of amino acids
• Secondary = Hydrogen bonds form to make either a alpha helix or beta pleated sheet
• Tertiary = other bonds form (Ionic, R-Groups, Hydrophilic etc.)
• Quaternary = Multiple subunits folding together

Question 11

4 types of protein

Answer 11

• Enzyme
• Structural
• Neurotransmitter
• Receptor

Question 12

How do genes cause disease?

Answer 12

• Faulty protein/receptor causes schiz
• Increasing/Decreasing neurotransmitter levels
• Extra genes = down syndrome

Question 13

Describe Alzheimers Disease

Answer 13

From APP, PS1 and PS2 malfunction